Colon Cancer Screening Specialist

Atlantic Medical Group

Eric Ibegbu, MD

Colon cancer is a serious illness that can be fatal if it isn’t caught early and treated effectively. Fortunately, regular colon cancer screenings can ensure that any cancer is discovered and addressed as soon as possible. Dr. Eric Ibegbu offers colon cancer screenings to patients in Kinston and Jacksonville, North Carolina as well as Virginia, Washington D.C., New York, Atlanta and even from around the world. To schedule a colon cancer screening, please contact Atlantic Medical Group today.

Colon Cancer Screening Q & A

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer occurs when cells in the lining of the colon grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. If the tumor isn’t found and treated properly, the cancer will grow deeper into the colon and eventually spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

What are the symptoms?

In the earlier stages, colon cancer doesn’t typically cause any symptoms, which is why screenings are so important. However, as colon cancer grows and/or spreads, it may cause the following symptoms:

Unexplained weight loss

Blood in your stool

A change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea

Pain in your stomach

A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely

What types of colon cancer screenings are available?

Atlantic Medical Group offers several different options to patients in need of colon cancer screening, including:

Fecal occult blood test

Fecal immunochemical test

Colonoscopy

Flexible sigmoidoscopy

Both the fecal occult blood test and the fecal immunochemical test look for signs of blood in the stool. If either of these screening tests is positive, Dr. Ibegbu may recommend further testing.

Which screening test is best?

Each of the screening options available offers different advantages. For example, the fecal occult blood test and fecal immunochemical test are both non-invasive and easy to complete. However, the flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are more accurate.

When should colon cancer screening begin?

Most people should begin colon cancer screening at age 50. However, in cases where the risk of colon cancer is high or the patient has been experiencing symptoms related to colon cancer, screenings may need to begin earlier. Talk to Dr. Ibegbu to learn about your individual risk of colon cancer and determine when your screenings should begin.

What are the risks of colon cancer screening?

Both colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy are surgical procedures. Like all surgical procedures, they pose some risks, such as an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, bleeding, and infection. There’s also a small risk of damage to the intestine.